kilgore



Jan. 27, 1931; o, KILGQRE I 1,790,310

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Aug. 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE N TOR FkEDER ICK O. KILGORE ATTORNEY J 1 31- F. o. KILGORE 1,790,310

' SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Aug. 15, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v l l M INVENTOR 4 FkEDEQ/(K ammo/e5.-

A T TORNE Y Patented Jan. 27, 1931 i UNITEDfSTATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK O. KILGORE, OF FULLmTQN, CALIFORNIA snocx ABSORBER Application filed August 15, 1927. Serial No. 213,083.

, My invention relates generally to hydraulic shock absorbers, and particularly, although not necessarily, to such devices for use on au-- tomobiles.

A purpose of my invention is the provision of a hydraulic shockabsorber characterized by its simplicity and compactness of construction, and embodying an oscillating abutment operating in a liquid medium to yieldingly resist any change in' original relative position of two members movable relative to each'other, and further embodying means by which the resistance offered by the liquid to the movement of the abutment in either direction can be varied at will, whereby relative movement of the members in either direction can be independentlycon-trolled.

I will describe only one form of shock absorber embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a view showing in side elevation one form of shock absorber embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the shock absorber in side elevation with the cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the disk partition removed.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view. taken on the line 44 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on the lines 55 and 66, respectively, of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7ofFig.6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention, in its present embodiment comprises a housing made up of a base section 15 and a cover section 16 threaded on the base ing the inner end of a shaft 19; The shaft of such length as to extend exteriorly of the cover section 16 and through a suitable openn formed therein. A traveling abutment 20 1S hxed to, or formed integral with, the shaft 1? so as to project radiallytherefrom forescillation within a fluid chamber 21 provided lnteriorly of the base section through the coactlon of a partition 22 secured in the position shown Fig. 4, bymeans of pins 23 in coacting grooves at the ends of the partition, and a removable partition 24 of diskform, the latter. serving as a closure for the base section 15. As an additional means fdr securing thepartition in fixed position, it is provided with an angularly disposed base 226 which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is secured to the base section by means of rivets 22c. The positionmg of the partition. 22 is such as to provide a liquid reservoir chamber 25 within. the base section 15 in addition to thefluid chamber 21. In this chamber 25 an auxiliary supply of oil, or other suitable liquid, is contained to automatically replenish the chamber21 with liquid when required. To permit liquid to pass from the chamber 25 into the chamber 21 ports 26 are provided in the partition 22 controlled by ball valves 27 in such manner that liquid cannot return to the chamber 25 after having passed into the chamber 21. Stop pins 28 are provided to allow the valves 27 to unseat and thus open the ports 26 when liquid is passing from the chamber 25 into the chamber 21. It will, of course, be understood that the .pins 28 further serve to prevent displacement of the valves from the ports.

As shown in Fig. 4, the partition 22 is provided with an intermediate curved portion 22a to accommodate the shaft 19, and in such manner as to permit free rotation of the shaft within the housing. The disk 24 is provided rounded by a collar 29 formed interiorly with an annular groove 30 communicatin with a plurality of radial ducts 31 throng which 1 recess 18 (Figs. 5 and 6) is formed in the inner side of the bottom of the section 15 forrotutivcly receiving and thus centrally posltlonlatter oil from the housing is adapted to pass into the groove 29 for lubrication of the shaft where it extends through the collar. The

marginal edge of the disk 24 is beveled on its 4 upper side," and the cover section 16 is correspondingly shaped in orderthat the edge of the disk can be'firmly' clamped between the sections 15 and16, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. In this position of the disk, its inner portion is spaced from the top of the cover section 16 to provide an intervenin chamber 32 to which oil maybe supplie by the removal of a plug 33 threaded in the cover section 16, as shown in Fig. 5. Oil from the chamber 32 is free to enter the fluid chamber 21 through a port 34 controlled by a ball valve 35, the port and valve bein embodied in a screw plu 36 threaded in t e disk 24. The valve will not permit oil to pass from the chamber 21 into the chamber 32, aswill be understood. Oil from the chamber 32 is free to pass into the chamber 25 through ports 37 in the disk 24, and in order that the ports 34 and 37 may register with the respective chambers 21 and 25, the disk 24 may be properly positioned through the prov sion of a pin 38 extending upwardly from the partition 22 for engagement within a suitableopening inthe disk 24.

The shaft 19 is bored longitudinall to form a pair of ducts 39 and 40 '(Fi 6 which communicate at their upper en w1th bores 41 and 42, respectively, of an increasedd eter toform seats 43 at the junction of the two upon which valves 44 and 45 normally seat. These valves are provided with stems 46 and v 47, respectively, which are telescopically associated with the inner ends of rods 48 and 49, respectively. Springs 50 are interposed between the valves and rods, as shown in Fig. 6,

' to provide an operative connection between the two and to vary the pressure of liquid reuiredto open the valves by an adjustment of t e rods within the shaft. The rods may adjusted manually by the provision of screws 51 and 52, respectively, on the upper ends of the rods 48 and 49. These screws are threaded in pockets 53 in the shaft 19, whereby rotation of the screws in one direction or the other will move the rods longitudinally to increase .or decrease the tension of the springs 50. 1'

i At a point below the valves 44'and 45. the

ducts 39 and 40 communicate withlateral ducts 54 and 55, respectively, the outer ends of which are disposed at opposite sides of the opened the ducts 39 and 40 are in communica-..

abutment 20. When the valves 44 and 45amtion with other radiabducts 56 and 57 res tively, (Fig; 7), and the outer-ends of t ese ducts are ewise disposed at opposite sides of the abutment 20. The inner endsof these ducts communicate with the bores 41 and 42 c and at points below the inner ends of the rods '48 and 49.

In practice the housing is secured to the frame of the automobile, while the shaft 19 is operativelyconnected to the automobile axle through the medium of an arm 58 .(Fig.

1). The arm may be keyed to the shaft and justment of the valves 44 and 45 secured against accidental displacement by I a nut 59 threaded on the outer end of the shaft. V

In operation, the chambers 32, 25 and 21 are filled with oil, or any other fluid suitable for the purpose. With the shock absorber applied to a vehicle, as described, any change in relative position. of the vehicle frame and axle rotates the; shaft in one direction or the other to cause oscillation of the abutment 20 within the chamber 21.; With the abutment in the 'position shown in Fig. 4,

movement thereof to the right places the oil in advance of the abutment under pressure, and when thisliquid pressure reaches a d e predetermined by an adjustment of the rod 49, the valve 45 opens thus allowing the ducts39 and 56 in communication with each other. Thus according as the abutment is moved in one direction or the other the liquid in advance thereof will be by-passed from one side of the abutment to the other, and in such manner as to-yieldinglyresist the movement of the abutment. It will, of

course, be understood that such retarding movement of the abutment is transmitted to the arm 58 through the shaft 19 to control relative movements of the vehicle frame and axle in a manner to eliminate shock. being transmitted to the frame. Relative movement of the two members in either direction can "be controlled independently through an adjustment of the valves 44 and 45 to control movement of the abutment by passing of In this mannerthe resistance the liquid in either direction and'hence the resistance .ofl'e I p v abutment. This independent control of the movement of the abutment constitutes an important feature of my invention, as in practice this function may be utilized topermit limited free play of the vehicle springs d to the movement of the V in downwardmovement of the vehicle frame by exercising the desired restraining power frame so as to prevent the transmission of shock to the vehicle body. Furtheryan ad- I rmits the shock absorber to be adjusted at t e-time' of installation for a given load, and thereby rendering 'the device adaptable to vehicles widely varying'in load.

120. ion the upward movement of the vehicle Continued operation of the shock absorber I requires replenishing of the chamber 21 with oil in order that proper resistance may be offered to the oscillation of the abutment. Through the provision of the chambers and '32, which as previously described are filled with oil, the chamber 21 is automatically replenished with oil undertheinduced suction created by oscillation of the abutment' which is suflicient to open-the valves 27 and 34 to permit oil from the chambers 25 and 32 to be drawn into and thus refill the chamber.

In actual practice, the shock absorber in applied position is as shown in Fig. 4 so that the valves 27 are pen to permit oil from the chamber 25 to gravitate into the working chamber 21 and thereby maintain the latter filled at all times to prevent the formation therein of air pockets which latter is formed would produce an objectionable noise as the abutment oscillates.

The rods 48 and 49 are constructed of a material possessing a relatively high co efiicient of expansion in order that they may be responsive to temperature changes to expand longitudinally and thus automatically increase the tension of the springs 50 in accordance with an increase in temperature for the purpose of increasing the pressure of liquid required to. open the valves, and thereby offerin a greater resistance to oscillation of the abutment to compensate for thinning of the oil as a result of the increased temperature. Conversely, the rods contract in response to a reduction in atmospheric temperature to lessen the resistance offered by the springs 50 to the opening movement of the valves 44 and 45, whereby the by-passing of oil from one side of the abutment to the other will occur with greater freedom to compensate for the increase inconsistency of the oil resultant of the reduction in atmospheric temperature. Thus the thermo adjustment of thebypassing valves automatically compensates for any change v.in the consistency of the oil, so that the resistance offered by the oil to the movement of the temperature changes.

abutment remains constant irrespective of Although I have herein shown and described only one form of shock absorber embo'clyingmy invention, it'is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of, my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims. What I claim is:

1. A shock absorber comprising a housing I adapted to contain a'fluid and having a working chamber therein, an abutment ada ted to oscillated in the working vcham r, a shaft extending exteriorly of the housing to which the abutment is fixed, a pair of noncommumcatin ductsin theshaft by which of the abutment can be bypassed to the other side under oscillation of 'f the abutment," valves one for each of and controlling the circulation of fluid through the ducts, and members manually adjustable in the shaft for regulating opening movement of the valves. 7.

2. A shock absorber as embodied in claim 1 wherein said members are formed of a material responsive to temperature changes so as to increase ordecrease the opening movement of the'valves according as thetemperature decreases or increases.

3. A shock absorber comprising a housing adapted to contain a fluid and having a working chamber therein, an abutment adapted to be oscillated in the working chamber, a shaft extending exteriorly of the PHI housing to which the abutment is fixed, du'cts .3 wherein the members are formed of a material responsive to temperature changes so as'to increase or decrease the opening movement of the valves according as the temperature decreases or increases.

5. A shock absorber comprising a housing having a body section,'a partition in-the body section dividing the latter into aworking chamber and a fluid reservoir chamber, a second partition for closing the chambers, a cover on the body section securing the second partition in position and to provide a second fluid reservoir chamberin the housing, a shaft journaled in the housing and projecting exteriorly of the latter, an abutment fixed to the shaft to oscillate in the workin chamber, ducts in the shaft by which fluid at one side of, the abutment can beby-passed to the other side under oscillation of theabutment, valves controlling the circulation of fluid through the ducts, members adjustable in the shaft for regulating opening movement of the valves, and valved ports in the partitions for delivering fluid to Ion ill)

the working chamber from the reservoir chambers to maintain the working chamber filled with fluid.

6,. Ayshock absorber as embodied in claim I 5 wherein said members are formed of a material responsive to temperature changes so asto increase or decrease the opening move- -ment of the valves according as the tempera ducts through which the fluid is by-p'assed rom one side of the abutment to the other i as thelatter is oscillated, and valves one for each of the ducts and controlling the circulaucts through which the fluid is by-passed froml ofle side of the abutment to the other as the latter is oscillated, and valves one for each ofzthe ducts and controlling the circulation of fluid so as to restrict the flow and thereby cause the fluid to yieldingly resist movement of the abutment, the valves being manually adjustable independently of each other and. automatically adjustable inde- T pendently of each other in response'to temrature changes to control the circulation of r uid and the'rebyvary 'the resistance offered by the fluid. I

9. A shock absorber comprising means definin a chamber adapted'to contain a fluid, an a utment mounted for movement in the 7 Chamber, a, pair of by-pass ducts, each of which communicates with the chamber at opposite sidesof the abutment, and check valves one for each of and controlling-and restricting the circulation of fluid through the ducts, and operable b fluid pressure to open one duct "and close t e other ,or vice versa accord-: ing as the abutment moves in one direction or the other, whereby movement of the abutment will be resisted in both. directions, said valves beingadjustable to vary the restrictin action thereof to the flow of fluid throng the" v dependently of each other,

- an a utment mounte ducts, and means for adjusting the valves inr 10; A shockabsorber comprising means definin a chamber ada ted'to contain a fluid, for movement in the chamber, a pair of-by-pass ducts, each of which communicates with the chamber at op ite sides of the abutment, and check va ves one for each" of and controlling and restrictin the circulation of fluid through the ducts, an operable byfluid pressureto open -one duct and close the other or vice versa according, as the abutment moves in one direction or the other, whereby movement of the abutment will be resisted in both directions, said valves being automatically adjustable in responseto' temperature changes to vary the -;through t e ducts.

restrict action thereof to the flow of fluid -11. A shock absorber comprising means defining' a chamber adapted to contain a fluid, an abutment adapted to be mounted for movement in the chamber, ashaft to which the abutmentis fiired a air of by-pass ducts in the shaft, each ofw 'ch communicates with rection, or the other, whereby movement of' the abutment will be resisted in both directions.

12. A shock absorber comprising means defining a chamber-adapted to contain a fluid,

an abutment adapted to be mounted for movement in the chamber, a shaft to which the abutment is fixed, a pair of by-pass ducts in the shaft, each of which communicates with the chamber at opposite sides of the abutment,

and check valves one for each of and controln ling the circulation of fluid through the ducts,

normally urged to close the ducts and, operable by fluid pressure to open one duct and close the other or vice versa according as the abutmentmoves in one direction or the other, whereby movement of the abutment will be resisted in both directions.

13. A shock absorber comprising means defining a chamber adapted to contain a fluid, an abutment adapted to be mounted for movement in the chamber, a shaft to which the abutment is fixed, a pair of by-pass ducts in the shaft, each of which communicates with,

the chamber at opposite sides of the abutment, and check valves one for each of 'and controlling and restricting the circulation of fluid through the ducts, normally urged to close the ducts and operable by fluid pressure to open one duct and close the other or vice 'versa according as the abutment moves in one direction or the other, whereby movement of'the abutment will be resisted in both directions, said. valves being adjustable in response to temperature changes to vary the restricting action thereof to the flow of fluid through the ducts.

14. A shock absorber comprising means defining a chamber adapted to contain a fluid,-

an abutment adapted to be mounted for movement in the chamber, a shaft to which 'the abutment is fixed, a pair of by-pass ducts in the shaft, each of which-communicates with the chamber at opposite sides of the abutment, check valves onefor each of and cons trolling andfrestricting the circulation of fluid through the ducts and operable by fluid presiure to open, one duct and close the other or vice versa according as the abutment moves in one direction or the other, whereby movementof the abutment will be resisted in both directions, and t ermo-responsive rneansforf ad usting the va es to vary .therestrictin U action there'of to the flow of fluid through the ducts.

FREDERICK O. KILGOREL 

